What to do if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19, or a positive COVID-19 test

The pandemic is not nevertheless around, but the results of the vaccination programme signifies the vast majority of people today who come to be contaminated with COVID-19 will no longer turn out to be very seriously unwell. Having said that, staying vaccinated does not make you immune to infection or protect against you from passing an infection on.

Discovering to reside with COVID depends on us all using practical steps to assistance halt the distribute of the virus and other respiratory bacterial infections, which in convert will enable to defend these who are most susceptible.

Though legal necessities all-around COVID-19 actions have been lifted, you are strongly encouraged to abide by this general public wellbeing advice so we can all enjoy our regained freedoms safely and securely.

Advice for grownups aged over 18 with indicators of respiratory infections like COVID-19

If you have indicators of a respiratory infection this kind of as COVID-19 , and you have a higher temperature or truly feel unwell, you ought to try out to keep at property and avoid make contact with with many others right until you no for a longer time have a high temperature (if you experienced just one) or till you no extended experience unwell.

Symptoms of COVID-19, flu and typical respiratory infections incorporate:

• constant cough
• high temperature, fever or chills
• reduction of, or alter in, your typical perception of taste or scent
• shortness of breath
• unexplained tiredness, absence of vitality
• muscle aches or pains that are not due to work out
• not seeking to try to eat or not sensation hungry
• headache that is abnormal or longer lasting than common
• sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
• diarrhoea, feeling unwell or remaining ill

If you have any of these signs, it is specifically vital to keep away from near get in touch with with any person you know who is at higher possibility of getting very seriously unwell if they were being to develop an infection specifically individuals whose immune method indicates that they are at better hazard of severe health issues, irrespective of vaccination

If possible, consider to get the job done from house if you can. If you are not able to function from house, communicate to your employer about selections out there to you. While you truly feel unwell, you may perhaps wish to talk to spouse and children, friends or neighbours to get food items and other essentials for you. If you do require to depart dwelling when unwell, make confident to get the pursuing safeguards: dress in a facial area covering or surgical confront mask, stay away from crowded or enclosed spaces and cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze. Clean your hands on a regular basis.

Actions for grown ups aged in excess of 18 with a positive COVID-19 examination

Prevalent testing is no for a longer period available, while some folks will continue to exam owing to office requirements or to deal with risk to other people. If you do have a favourable exam result, you must test and keep at home and steer clear of contact with other people for 5 days immediately after the working day you took a test. You must also prevent conference persons who at higher possibility of getting seriously unwell from COVID-19 for 10 days just after the working day you took a test to make confident that you are no for a longer time infectious.

If you have to leave your house while feeling unwell or within the 5-day interval subsequent a constructive exam, you ought to use a face masking prevent crowded areas these kinds of as community transport, large social gatherings and enclosed or badly ventilated spaces work out outdoors and absent from many others and often bear in mind fantastic hand and respiratory cleanliness.

Suggestions for shut contacts

People today who dwell in the exact same domestic as somebody with a positive COVID-19 check are most at danger of starting to be contaminated, as they are very likely to have extended contact with the infectious person.

It can consider up to 10 times for infection to develop in shut contacts, and all through that period you must, steer clear of speak to with people you know are at bigger hazard of getting seriously unwell and restrict near speak to with folks outdoors your household, specially in crowded areas.

If you acquire signs through this period of time, you ought to comply with steering for people today with indications.

Guidance for children and young people today aged 18 and young

Respiratory infections are typical in small children and young people today but we know they are at a lessen threat from COVID-19 infection, when compared to the wider harms of missed or disrupted schooling.

Given the great importance of education, little ones and younger folks really should keep on to go to their nursery, university, faculty or university if they have delicate respiratory signs or symptoms. Only if they are unwell or have a higher temperature need to they keep at household. They must prevent get in touch with with other folks right until they experience very well plenty of or no for a longer period have a temperature.

COVID-19 screening is no extended suggested for small children and youthful people today aged 18 years and younger unless of course directed by a health professional. If they do examination favourable for COVID-19 they ought to try out and stay away from get in touch with with others for 3 times just after the day they took a test. Immediately after 3 times, they can resume usual actions, like returning to instruction, delivered they really feel effectively and do not have a high temperature. It’s also encouraged that little ones and younger folks who are living with another person who has analyzed optimistic for COVID-19 continue on to go to their education environment as common.

For extra information see our direction: Persons with signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection such as COVID-19